Was Georgian swine fever outbreak deliberate?

Economic experts are demanding a professional investigation to study the
possibility of deliberate introduction of the African Swine Virus in Georgia as
well as the government's late response to the disease.

"Whether the government has already 'prevented a major spread' of the fever
is also under question," claims economic expert, Gia Khukhashvili adding that at
this point, it's hard to talk of a subdued virus simply because most of the
animals died or were culled already. "Maybe such conclusions are based on the
motto - there are no pigs, therefore there is no African Swine Fever,"
Khukhashvili commented to The Messenger.

Results"Our
timely and focused actions on these hot points, as well as a large scale combat
of the virus throughout Georgia have yielded results - pig deaths have decreased
as the disease has come under our control," Nukri Gugushvili, Head of special
headquarters created at the Ministry of Agriculture to deal with ASF in Georgia
said in a reaction.

Late government actionsEconomic experts
Gia Khukashvili and Davit Ebralidze share claims concerning the "late government
reaction" to ASF. Ebralidze claims officials didn't start fighting the virus
until it had spread all across the country.

"Delayed detection of the virus has resulted in a long danger period where
the disease has been unrecognized and the virus could have moved to neighbouring
countries," Jan Slingenbergh, a senior animal health officer of FAO, said.
Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation should be on high
alert."

Deliberately?Khukhashvili also raises the
possibility that the disease may have been deliberately introduced as a
"biological weapon" and used to destroy local pig farmers. He suggests a
possible motive might be to have less competition in the Georgian pork industry.
Neighbouring countries have not detected the disease yet. The ministry rejects
such claims though they admit they still have not identified the source of the
virus though they suspect Poti port.

No compensationHe also
believes the issue of compensation as recommended by the FAO must also be
addressed, "I think it goes without saying, that these farmers who lost their
livelihoods, should be given adequate compensation. This will indicate the
government's true attitude towards the agricultural sector," Khukhashvili says.
"At this point there has been no discussion about compensations," Gugushvili
admitted.